FilmWIP Created by Scott Morgan, w/Grok Build

Build Updates

What we shipped recently (left) and what we’re considering next (right). Local-first media stays on your computer; this page is product history, not a changelog of your private projects.

Shipped

Most recent improvements at the top

  1. Reference: set language + Recently Added media

    Kinetic action cards now use set language: Pursuit Shot, Boom-and-Zoom, and Camera Shake (Impact) under Camera movements; Speed Lines under Animation; Radial Motion Blur and Motion Trail / Ghosting under Visual effects; Action Set-Piece Beats under Editing (planning scaffold, not a named cut). Recently Added only lists cards that already have a still or playable demo — placeholder cards stay in their category.

  2. Reference: chase cam, speed tunnel, and kinetic FX cards

    Reference Library adds Chase Cam, Speed Tunnel, Micro-Shake, Dive-Zoom, Velocity Streaks, Afterimage Ghosting, and Five-Beat Action Sequence (Launch → Build → Signature → Climax → Outro). Placeholders for now; motion demos can be added later. They show under Recently Added.

  3. Onion Board (onion-skin frames)

    New tool in Media & edit, just before Sequence Board. Draw animation or stop-motion frames with a faint previous or next frame under the live layer (classic light-table / onion skin). Thumbnail strip along the top. Import a still, draw from scratch, or draw on a still. Send This frame or All frames to Sequence Board. Show player flips the frames (Loop). Save as book stores named slots (up to eight) you can load again. Pencil and eraser; Save board keeps the working frames with the project or as a standalone board.

  4. Rough cut: red viewer background

    On Rough cut, Guides now has Red bg. Turn it on to make the program viewer red instead of black, so you can see if a zoomed or resized clip does not fill the aspect frame. Turn it off to go back to black. Stitch, Stitch cropped, and Grab frame stay black — the red never goes into an exported file.

  5. Sequence Board: Space stops play, no auto-scroll

    Play sequence no longer jumps the page to the clip that is playing, so a loop of several rows stays where you scrolled. Press Space to Stop (does not type over a title or note you are editing).

  6. Sequence Board: scroll to see more rows

    On Sequence Board, the center column now scrolls so you can see several rows of stills and clips at once. The left menu stays put. Drag still works while you scroll.

  7. Sequence Board: duplicate clips + loop play

    On Sequence Board, ⧉ on a clip copies that still or video onto the board, placed next in order (same file, new card). Loop next to Play sequence repeats the order until you Stop. Both save with the board.

  8. Media Library: select stills for Sequence

    Image cards in Media Library now have the same checkbox as videos. Select stills, videos, or a mix, then Selected → Sequence — or drag a still onto Sequence Board in the left menu. Audio stays in the library only. On the board, stills still use Hold 2s or the stills fps.

  9. Sequence Board: stills as stop-motion video

    On Sequence Board, Stills can hold 2 seconds each (as before) or play at 6–30 frames per second so a run of stills stitches into a stop-motion clip. Play sequence uses the same timing. Each image is one frame at the chosen fps.

  10. Story timeline: Jaws and Star Wars beats

    On Story timeline, Film examples can be toggled on: Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977). Each film’s key turns sit at the same share of the ruler as in that movie (Jaws ~124 min, A New Hope ~121 min). Hover a beat for what happens there. Still planning-only.

  11. Story timeline (structure overlays)

    Plan group: Story timeline maps an open project on its target runtime (or shot-list total / a custom length). Toggle three-act, Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, Kishōtenketsu, five-act, and eight-sequence overlays. Drag beats, hide overlay beats, and add your own titled notes. Saved on the project; not written into any video.

  12. Rough cut: viewer guides and cropped stitch

    Above the Rough cut program viewer: composition grid (thirds, golden, center, diagonals), aspect frames with letterbox and title-safe, plus zoom and drag to reframe. Guides stay on the viewer only. Stitch & save film is still the full program. Stitch cropped exports the stitch range cut to the chosen aspect using your zoom and position.

  13. Gallery: full-width layout + lasting share links

    On the Public Gallery, search and filters sit to the left of the showcase films and stay put while you scroll the videos. The page uses the full width on large screens. Share on X still links to that gallery page and includes the filmmaker’s @handle. If the film is later unlisted, the same link opens a FilmWIP page that points you to the filmmaker instead of a dead URL.

  14. Be a fan + share gallery films on X

    On a filmmaker’s profile, signed-in visitors can choose Be a fan (again to stop). Your fan list is only on your own profile. When they post a new film to the gallery or their public profile, you get a notice in Messages. Public gallery listings and the detail page have Share on X, which drafts a post linking back to that gallery video.

  15. Prompt Board: Imagine refs for this project

    Imagine references on the Prompt Board now default to media in folders linked to the open project. Use All projects to see every AI-ref / Character / Location / Prop file in this browser.

  16. Project hub: sheets, counts, and reorder

    On an open project, counts sit under the title. Cast, locations & design is open: cards first (drag to reorder, then Save sheets), with Add or edit names/notes/image paths collapsed underneath. Add another adds more rows. Suggested workflow is in Context. Project notes show five lines until you expand them.

  17. Project Cast & world sheets

    On an open project, Cast & world sheets sit under the inspiration board. Cast, Locations, Props, and Design each get cards with a still (or monogram), role, look, inspiration vs attached, and links into Media Library, shots that mention the name, storyboard frames, and Prompt Board / Reference. The inspiration board still works the same.

  18. Showcase films move to the Public Gallery

    The three admin showcase films now sit in a fixed row at the top of the Public Gallery. Gallery sort and filters only change the listings below. The home page no longer shows those videos; it shows larger portal screenshots (two per row) under the hero buttons.

  19. Home page: portal screenshots

    The home page now shows six stills of the main portal tools (Rough cut, Sequence Board, Prompt Board, Reference Library, Storyboard, Scripts / Shot list) under the bottom buttons, for both guests and signed-in visitors. They are for viewing only.

  20. Guided tours match the current workspace

    All five Getting Started walkthroughs now point at the current layout: Prompt Board Recent slots and Imagine sources, Scripts / Shot list in the menu, Sequence clip × to remove, and Rough cut Import sequence vs Play as separate steps.

  21. Prompt Board: Recent slots under the working board

    Recent slots now sit under the working board, below Next empty slot, Starter pack, and New group. The list shows the five most recently saved slots. Click one to load it onto the board. Imagine references, After Imagine, and Imagine sources stay in the right column.

  22. Prompt Board: Imagine sources, After Imagine, recent slots

    The Prompt Board right column now holds Imagine references, After Imagine steps, Imagine sources (share link + file name), and a Recent slots list for one-click load onto the working board.

  23. Notepad: larger window + clearer Clear

    The floating Notepad opens larger. Clear warns that notes already saved to a project stay on that project’s Notes panel.

  24. Grok Imagine share-link tracking (with you)

    There is now a process in FilmWIP, with user assistance, to track share links tied to filenames for every image or video clip made in Grok Imagine and imported into FilmWIP, then export that info as a document with any final output film or collection of individual video clips or images. In Media Library → Imagine sources, paste the Imagine Share link and the downloaded file name (include .jpg / .mp4 if you can). Sequence Export media list, Rough cut Export clips + transitions, and the project package list those pairs for the files used in that output.

  25. Five Mars film packages + Recently Added

    Reference Library film packages for The Martian (2015), Total Recall (1990), John Carter (2012), Ad Astra (2019), and Mars Express (2023), with documented camera / lens / filter / finish. A Recently Added pill shows the ten newest cards.

  26. Self-serve delete account

    From Edit profile you can delete your account. It takes two steps: a warning, then your handle plus current password. That removes the account and the data we store. Files on your computer stay on your computer. The only remaining admin account cannot delete itself.

  27. Terms: no data sale and right to delete

    The Terms of Service now say we do not sell personal data, and that you can have your account and the data we store for it deleted. Local media on your computer stays on your computer.

  28. Register Terms of Service + pre-beta wording

    New accounts must open Read Terms of Service on the Register page before the Register button submits. The header Register link still opens that page. Log in is unchanged. The home pre-beta note now says FilmWIP is still being improved, but is usable now.

  29. Grab frame to storyboard + media new-file cue

    Grab frame still downloads a PNG. If a storyboard stack is open (or the project has one), you can also save that still as a new frame or replace an existing one. Media Library now says when the auto-check finds new files in a Sync-all folder.

  30. Grab frame from Sequence and Rough cut

    Program viewer: Grab frame downloads the current picture as a PNG on your computer. Nothing is uploaded. Works for Sequence hover/play and the Rough cut composed program.

  31. Five guided tours (media first)

    Getting Started has five desktop tours: Connect your media, First film plan, Reference & Imagine, Arrange / edit / share, and a longer Full studio path. Each tip still has optional More info.

  32. Tour More info + desktop only

    Each guided-walkthrough tip has an optional More info window (why this step, how it fits) that stays open beside the tip. The walkthrough is desktop-only so it can target the full workspace.

  33. Guided first-film walkthrough

    Getting started → Guided walkthrough. A small window points at each control and waits while you make a project, one shot, and a storyboard stack. How to use and Context stay as written guides.

  34. Rough cut: source I/O, ripple/roll/slip, volume

    Source viewer in the media bin with In/Out marks and Insert at playhead. Timeline trim modes: Normal, Ripple, Roll, Slip. Clip volume in Clip details; track volume sliders on audio rows.

  35. Imagine scan skip / re-shoot + My Films one-click listings

    Scan Imagine can skip a shot for this pass or mark it re-shoot (not done). My Films can request profile and gallery in one click; admin still approves each listing separately.

  36. Basic site hardening (rate limits, headers, approval ack)

    Login and register are throttled per IP/handle. Security headers added. Non-YouTube gallery/profile/film links need a second admin checkbox before approve. Storyboard imports cap frame count and image size. Admin password required to change admin flags or issue a temporary password.

  37. UI polish: accents & collapsible help

    Sparse color accents per tool; more collapsed-by-default help so dense pages stay scannable. Nav groups: Start gold · Plan steel · Media sage · Share clay; active tool stays gold.

  38. Pre-beta visit note on the home page

    Once per session, a small overlay explains that FilmWIP is still being improved but is usable now, local files are not affected, and a hard refresh shows the latest version. Points to Build updates, Getting started, and in-tool tips.

  39. Surface correction notes on Sequence Board

    Shot correction / re-shoot notes show on Sequence Board cards and travel with imports into Rough cut.

  40. Sequence stitch polish

    Cancel mid-stitch, duration estimate before a long export, and stills held as freeze frames in the stitch.

  41. Stronger cross-links in the Reference Library

    See also on non-package cards (explicit related entries plus tag scoring), including the editing cluster and Smash cut.

  42. Fuller project package export

    TXT and JSON project pack from the project hub: prompts, shot metadata, and provenance. No media bytes.

  43. Safari / non-Chromium media folder support

    Safari and Firefox can use Connect folder to pick a local folder or files for this browser. Not a live Chrome-style folder link — you may need to re-choose after a new visit. Files never upload.

  44. Shot list scan mode for Imagine packs

    One-shot-at-a-time strip: grab Imagine pack → generate off-site → mark done → next shot. Keys: C copy, I open Imagine, D mark done, N/P next/prev, Esc exit.

  45. Lock storyboard panels & scripts

    Shots already lock; extend simple lock/unlock to storyboard frames and script bodies so finished writing and boards cannot be overwritten by accident.

  46. Clearer folder path note / label UX

    Path-note dialog instead of a browser prompt, a default folder for the shot list, copy buttons, and clearer Media Library path-note labels when the OS does not expose a full disk path.

  47. Empty-state & restore-folder clarity

    Media empty states now distinguish never-connected vs restore-permission vs filters, with Restore folder access on the empty grid itself. Files stay on disk.

  48. Admin queue speed as submissions grow

    Gallery and profile-video admin: search, queue filter, checkboxes, and bulk approve/reject/hide (plus Feature and This week on gallery).

  49. Gallery discovery extras

    Featured flag, Featured first / Featured only, This week, plus optional tags and collections on submit with matching public filters.

  50. Profile polish (featured film / reel order)

    Owners pick a featured My Films title (also shown in the desktop header), reorder the profile reel with up/down, and pick a featured gallery piece.

  51. Live runtime vs project target on Sequence & Rough cut

    Sequence Board and Rough cut show program length next to the project’s target runtime, with over / under as the board or timeline grows. Videos use file duration; stills are not counted.

  52. Sequence Board multi-clip stitch fix

    Stitch now paints every clip to a canvas and routes audio through Web Audio so all board videos appear in order (not only the first clip).

  53. Sequence Board: Stitch videos + Export media list

    Hard-cut stitch to one local file (Downloads or Save As). Media list export with sequence #, file name, path, and duration. Program viewer and play-sequence for the full board order.

  54. Rough cut multi-row editor + program stitch

    Layered timeline (top row wins for picture and sound), gaps play black, transitions, live program preview, and Stitch & save film of the composed program to a local file. EDL/XML/handoff still available.

  55. Shot list power tools

    Per-shot target duration, in/out transitions (adjacent sync), correction / re-shoot notes, Imagine pack (prompt + up to 7 image and 7 audio refs), shot lock, and Copy Imagine pack.

  56. Project package fields & inspiration board

    Target runtime, genre, camera/lens/filter/aspect/finish, contributors, plus cast / locations / props / design inspiration lists on the project hub.

  57. Media Library folder sync

    Connect local folders, restore access, optional poll/auto-scan so new files appear without re-picking the folder. Character / Location / Prop tags for Imagine.

  58. Gallery, genres & home showcase

    Public gallery filter by filmmaker handle/name; Fantasy genre; admin-managed showcase slots placed above “What you can do on FilmWIP”.

  59. Soft-launch portal foundations

    Projects, scripts & shots, storyboard draw board, reference library, prompt board, local-first media, Resolve handoff helpers, My Films, messages, and admin moderation.

Planned / wished

Ideas under consideration — not a promise of order or timing

  1. Make demo video clips for Reference Library entries which still need them

  2. Reference Library: cards not in the library yet

    Worth adding later. Grouped by the Reference Library filter they would use.
    Boom is already Pedestal (Boom Up / Down). Sound and story/narrative stay out — no matching filter (Story Timeline covers structure).

    96 cards:

    Shot types (6)
    • Choker Shot
    • Head-On Shot
    • Profile Shot
    • Reaction Shot
    • Reverse Angle
    • Trunk Shot

    Camera movements (1)
    • Snorricam

    Techniques (21)
    • Available Light
    • Blue Hour
    • Butterfly Lighting
    • Cross Lighting
    • Dappled Light
    • Firelight
    • Forced Perspective
    • Gobo Lighting
    • Golden Hour
    • Lens Distortion
    • Lens Flare
    • Neon Lighting
    • Night for Night
    • Rembrandt Lighting
    • Reverse Motion
    • Rim Lighting
    • Split Lighting
    • Time-Lapse
    • Underwater Lighting
    • Uplighting
    • Volumetric Lighting

    Composition & framing (6)
    • Aspect Ratio
    • Diagonal Lines
    • Golden Ratio
    • Mise-en-Scène
    • Reflections
    • Vignette

    Editing language (10)
    • 30-Degree Rule
    • Cutaway
    • Flashback
    • Flashforward
    • Freeze Frame
    • Invisible Cut
    • Match on Action
    • Shot-Reverse-Shot
    • Soviet Montage
    • Split Screen

    Visual effects (15)
    • Bloom Effect
    • Chromatic Aberration
    • Digital De-aging
    • Green Screen
    • Matte Painting
    • Miniatures
    • Morphing
    • Motion Capture
    • Parallax Effect
    • Practical Effects
    • Prosthetic Makeup
    • Refractions
    • Squibs
    • Virtual Production
    • Wire Work

    Genre styles (33)
    • Acid Western
    • Afrofuturism
    • Blaxploitation
    • Body Horror
    • Bollywood Masala
    • Cinéma du Look
    • Cosmic Horror
    • Cyberpunk
    • Dogme 95
    • Film Soleil
    • Found Footage
    • French New Wave
    • German Expressionism
    • Giallo
    • Gothic Horror
    • Grindhouse
    • Heroic Bloodshed
    • Italian Neorealism
    • J-Horror
    • Kaiju Cinema
    • Mockumentary
    • Neo-Western
    • Nordic Noir
    • Samurai Cinema
    • Screwball Comedy
    • Southern Gothic
    • Space Opera
    • Spaghetti Western
    • Steampunk
    • Surrealism
    • Synthwave Retrowave
    • Technicolor Musical
    • Wuxia

    Color grades / looks (4)
    • Amber Phosphor CRT
    • Desaturation
    • Film Grain
    • Sepia Tone

  3. Optional cloud media (future)

    So libraries can persist across devices without re-linking folders (already noted in FAQ as possible later).

  4. Rough cut stitch quality / format polish

    Only if users report issues — realtime stitch path is the stable default; further quality/format tweaks as needed.

  5. Prefer YouTube for new reference demos

    When publishing new motion demos, prefer YouTube links over host-local mp4s to save bandwidth (card media stills/videos are tracked separately as content production).

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